Angel Gomes: How Man Utd and Amorim should react to Spurs hijack

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 Nov 2024 11:01 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United have been warned that they face missing out on bringing one of their academy players back to Old Trafford, with the news that Tottenham Hotspur are ready to launch a transfer bid.

It must certainly be tempting for Man Utd to bring Angel Gomes back to the club from Lille.

There’s a lot to like about the creative midfielder. Not only is he available as a free agent in the summer as his contract with the Ligue 1 side runs down, but his form has been so strong that it has attracted international honours with England.

However, according to data analytics experts SciSports, United would be well advised to let the 24-year-old midfielder move to Tottenham, who GMS reports are interested in him.

Current ETV

Angel Gomes

M, DM, AM (C)

Lille

Angel Gomes

M, DM, AM (C)

Lille

€14.2M

ETV Range

€10.6M - €17.7M

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Angel Gomes: Why Man Utd return is the wrong move

Angel Gomes played for Man Utd from youth level all the way up to the first team, featuring 10 times for the Red Devils, including five Premier League appearances. Frustrated by his lack of game time, he left for Lille in 2020 as a free agent and spent a year on loan at Boavista.

He has been a success story since then, but while he is ready to take a step up, returning to Old Trafford is the wrong step for him, according to SciSports.

Using the firm’s Career Advice tool, United only come out with a score of 60. This is based upon various factors, including playing time, potential development, formation and style of play.

The Red Devils do not rate particularly well in any of these categories when it comes to Gomes, and while this is just short of Tottenham’s 61, it casts serious questions over the suitability of the deal.

The Amorim factor

It should be noted that these calculations have been based solely on Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd. He’s history now, with Ruben Amorim having replaced him.

Looking at how Gomes would have fitted into Amorim’s setup at Sporting CP might, therefore, give clues as to how he might play under the new regime at Old Trafford.

STATS

Angel Gomes

M, DM, AM (C)

Lille

Angel Gomes

M, DM, AM (C)

Lille

Ligue 1

2024/25

• 10

  Games

• 1

  Goals

• 1

  Assists

View all stats

Surprisingly, SciSports don’t rate the England international for fitting into the system of the new Man Utd head coach. He would have got playing time at Sporting, sure, but neither the formation or style suited him, SciSports claims.

Like Man Utd, the Portuguese club also score a 60 on the Club Fit matrix.

Based on these findings, it would be better for both club and player to look at other options.

What next for Gomes?

There are good clubs out there for Angel Gomes, with four in particular hitting the 80 mark or more. This suggests there is a huge amount more to come from the midfielder.

Premier League side West Ham come out on top with a Club Fit score of 83, though where Julen Lopetegui is still there to implement the current style when Gomes would move next summer is seriously doubtful.

Other more stable options are to be found in Serie A with Inter or Napoli, who both score 81, while Newcastle should be seriously considered as an option given they also hit the 80 figure.

With the Magpies surprisingly restricted in their spending, the addition of such a high-quality free agent who fits into their system could be a very shrewd move indeed.